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NH College Notebook: St. Anselm, SNHU to battle in nationally televised game

A MANCHESTER hoops rivalry is headed for your television screen.

The St. Anselm College and Southern New Hampshire University men's basketball teams will play in a nationally televised game Saturday, Feb. 8. It is the second of the two 2013-14 matchups between the city Division II clubs.

The game will air live on CBS Sports Network at 11:30 a.m. from Stoutenburgh Gymnasium on the St. Anselm campus.

St. Anselm won last year's Northeast-10 regular-season title, while Southern New Hampshire captured the tournament crown.

"We are especially excited for this opportunity to highlight not only our defending regular-season and postseason basketball champions, but also to shine the light on the city of Manchester," said Northeast-10 commissioner Julie Ruppert. "It's not every day two institutions that share the same city get to share the spotlight of national television."

The two schools partnered to host the NCAA Men's Basketball East Regional in Manchester last season, but never met on the court in the NCAAs.

"We are pleased, not only to be playing in a nationally televised game, but also to have the opportunity to showcase our wonderful campus," said St. Anselm head coach Keith Dickson. "Matching up against our crosstown rival in SNHU is just an added bonus to what should be a special afternoon here on the Hilltop."

Stan Spirou, SNHU head coach, echoed those sentiments.

"It's an honor to have a network with the stature of CBS Sports Network to include our program on their basketball package," Spirou said. "To have two rival schools within seven miles of one another competing on national television shows the stature that both programs have reached."

An announcement regarding access to tickets for the event is expected sometime within the next month.

The Hawks open their season Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. when they host Bentley University. The Penmen tip off the season by welcoming Post to the SNHU Fieldhouse Nov. 9 at 5 p.m.

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SENIOR Christiana Bakolas of Manchester will join Courtney Finn and Lauren Battista as captains of the 2013-14 Bentley University women's basketball team, head coach Barbara Stevens announced this week.

This is the first time serving as captain for Bakolas, who played at Central.

She started every game last year when the Falcons posted a 30-2 record and claimed both the regular season and playoff championships in the Northeast-10 Conference for the third straight year.

Bakolas, a 5-foot-7 point guard, led the 2012-13 Falcons in assists (134) and steals (49) while also averaging 5.9 points and three rebounds.

"The team's vocal leader and three-year starting point guard, Christiana has earned the respect of her fellow teammates and coaches with her leadership and dedication to the program," said Stevens.

Bentley opens the 2013-14 season Nov. 9 at Holy Family.

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DARTMOUTH linebacker Michael Runger (Lisle, Ill.) was among 170 candidates announced last week for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame 2013 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

The semifinalists are also eligible for the 2013 William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Schools are limited to one nominee, who must be a senior or graduate student, carry a GPA of at least 3.2, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

Runger, an economics major with a 3.77 GPA, was named to the All-Ivy First Team and the FCS All-New England Team in 2012 after leading the league in tackles with 98, including a career-best 17 in the season-ending 35-21 win at Princeton.

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UNH announced Friday that the 10th annual Wildcat Tailgating Cookoff will be held Homecoming weekend, Saturday, Oct. 12, in the Boulder Field tailgating area.

Fans are encouraged to bring their best tailgating recipes and fire up the grill prior to kickoff of the UNH/Rhode Island football game at noon. Judging will begin at 10 a.m. and registration is at 9 a.m. The grand prize is a new portable tailgate grill and $250 in credit at The Meat House.